SCOTT YOUNG rescued a point for Cardiff City with second-half header against Queens Park Rangers in a high-octane Second Division clash at Ninian Park last night.

Rangers, like City chasing a playoff spot, took an early lead through Richard Pacquette but just when it seemed this would not be City's night, Young came to their rescue on the hour.

The abrasive Loftus Road outfit were reduced to 10 men for the last 12 minutes when Pacquette was shown red for a second bookable of-fence, but Lennie Lawrence's injury-ravaged Bluebirds just could not find that winner.

Lawrence will consider this two points dropped and victory over Blackpool at home on Saturday is now a must if City are to keep their promotion dreams alive. City's care-taker-manager kept faith with the same team that beat Northampton last Saturday.

With a full treatment table, not to mention skipper Graham Kavanagh still suspended, Lawrence was limited in his choices.

The visitors took a shock lead in the 12th minute through Pacquette after Danny Shittu's hopeful punt up-field caught City's defence stone cold. The 19-year-old striker found himself one on one with City goalkeeper Neil Alexander courtesy of Shittu's long ball over the Bluebirds rearguard and he placed the ball inside the far post.

Lawrence, though, would not have been pleased with the way Alexander defended his goal. Rather than advance off his line and narrow Pacquette's angle, the former Livingston player stayed rooted to the spot, giving the Rangers striker more to shoot at.

Loan signing Andy Campbell, who hit City's winner on the weekend, nearly levelled six minutes later when he fired Peter Thorne's knockdown wide of the upright.

The home side squandered an opportunity to wipe out the Londoners' lead less than 60 seconds later. Willie Boland won the ball in midfield and released Paul Brayson, deputising for the injured Jason Bowen, but rather than test Rhys Evans himself the pint-sized forward squared to Campbell who shot tamely at the Rangers 'keeper.

One couldn't help thinking that had Earnshaw been playing it would have been 1-1. Lawrence's men were now squeezing the visitors and Brayson intelligently picked out the unmarked Josh Low inside the penalty area but the right wing-back saw his effort deflected over the crossbar.

Ian Holloway's side always looked menacing on the break and they nearly grabbed a second on the half-hour.

Richard Langley chipped a ball into the box and Pacquette saw his downward header shave the post. Rangers were the dominant side in the latter stages of the first half and Pacquette could have had a hat-trick before the interval.

Fed once again by the impressive Langley, he saw his 42nd-minute effort roll just wide of the post. Lawrence was obviously concerned with his team's lack of punch in attack and after the break Leo Fortune-West replaced Brayson.

City equalised in the 59th minute when centre-back Young netted his first league goal of the season. Andy Legg's long throw caused mayhem inside the visitors' penalty box allowing Young to head home.

Fortune-West nearly put City ahead in the 64th minute but Evans stopped his low drive with his legs. Alexander made amends for his earlier error in the 70th minute when he produced a brilliant reflex to tip Pacquette's rasping shot past the upright.

This dynamite of a match reached boiling point in the 78th minute when Pacquette, who pulled back Gabbidon, was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

He had been shown the yellow card for a foul on Young in the first half. An incensed Holloway, an animated figure on the touchline throughout the game, had to be restrained by his dugout before Cain ordered him into the stands. But 10-men Rangers should have snatched all the points four minutes from time. Kevin Gallen slipped a pass to Matthew Rose but he lifted his shot over the crossbar.